TUCSON, Ariz. – Stanford dropped its first Pac-12 Conference dual-meet matchup of the year Saturday, falling 197.000-196.000 to No. 19 Arizona inside of McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Junior Brenna Neault won the all-around competition with a total score of 39.275 while also nabbing a share of the beam title with her season-best effort of 9.925. The event wins are the first two awards for the Cardinal this season. Neault now has led all Cardinal gymnasts in the all-around competition for two consecutive meets. Sophomore Claire Dean finished in second place, totaling a 39.125.
Stanford kicked off its conference dual-meet opener with its season-best bars rotation. Senior Chloe Widner led the way with a season-best score of 9.950, followed by senior Ira Alexeeva with a 9.925, also a season-best effort, and a 9.875 from junior Anapaula Gutierrez, a career-best from the Highlands Ranch, Colo. native. Dean and sophomore Ava Sorrento rounded out the scoring routines each with scores of 9.825.
The Cardinal then took on vault, short-handed with only five vaulters in the lineup. Stanford's 48.825 team score was led by scores of 9.825 from Neault, Gutierrez and sophomore Taralyn Nguyen. Dean scored a 9.700 in the leadoff spot while senior Amanda Zeng followed with a 9.650.
Following vault, Stanford headed to floor, sporting another five-person lineup. Neault earned the Cardinal's top score on the event with a 9.825 and Dean led the rotation off with a 9.775. Freshman Temple Landry totaled a 9.750 and Nguyen scored a 9.700 while Zeng marked a 9.550.
The Cardinal finished the meet strong on beam, earning a 49.175 team score. Neault's season-high of 9.925 led all Stanford gymnasts, while Alexeeva came up with a huge 9.875 in the fifth spot, Dean led off with a 9.825, and sophomore Ashley Carter matched her career-best score in the third spot with a 9.750. Sophomore Porsche Trinidad made her Stanford debut in the anchor spot and finished the rotation with a 9.800, earning her the Gymnast of the Meet award for the Cardinal as selected by Rodgers Family Director of Gymnastics Tabitha Yim.
After spending three weeks on the road to open the season, the Cardinal finally return to The Farm for its next two competitions, first welcoming Washington to Maples Pavilion Monday, Feb. 5 for a 7 p.m. matchup. Just a few days later, Stanford plays hosts to Arizona State for a Friday night meet scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Both meets are slated to be broadcast on Stanford Live Stream.
